Motor-vehicle.



m. 7|0,s3o. Patented Oct. 7, I902.

C. F. THOMS.

MOTOR VEHICLE.

(Applieztion filed June-20, 1 992.)

(No Model.)

UNITED STATES FATENT FFICE.

CHARLES F. THOMS, OF IIIGIILANDTOVVN, MARYLAND, ASSIGNOR OF ONE- HALF TO DAVID \VRIGHT, OF HIGIILANDTOlVN, MARYLAND.

MOTOR-VEHICLE.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 710,630, dated October '7, 1902.

Application filed June 20,1902- Serial No. 112,486. (No model.)

To (all whom it Titrty concern.-

Be it known that I, CHARLES F. THOMS, a citizen of the United States, and a resident of Highlandtown, in the county of Baltimore and State of Maryland, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Hotor-Vehicles, of which the following is a specification.

This invention is an improvement in mo- [0 tor-vehicles, and relates more especially to the class known as runabouts.

The objects of the invention are to con struct the body of the vehicle in such manner as to permit it to be made entirely of sheet metal, whereby a cheaper, lighter, stronger, and more durable vehicle will be produced, and to improve the general construction and arrangement of the parts of the motor-vehicle.

\Vith the above objects in view the invention consists in the particular construction of detail parts and their combination, all as hereinafter described, and specifically set forth in the appended claims.

In the drawings which form a part of this specification, Figure 1 isaside elevation illustrating the motor-vehicle constructed in accordance with my invention. Fig. 2 is alongitudinal sectional view. Fig. 3 isa sectional view on the line 3 3 of Fig. 2.

0 In carrying out my invention the body A of the vehicle is made up of sheet metal bent or shaped to provide the sides Ct a, front a, and back a the said front, sides, and back being provided at their lower edges with in- 5 wardly-projecting flanges 7), upon which the metal plates forming the floor of the vehicle rest. The front a is curved, as shown, where it joins the bottom, not only to overlie the front wheel,but also to provide a foot-rest that is at an easy inclination with relation to the seat. The back a is extended up on a line with the highest part of the sides and has an opening covered by the lid 0, and through which opening access is had to a compart- 5 ment 0, located in rear of the compartment containing the motor, &c.

The combined seat and back portion a is supported by the plates a and a, each bent at an angle, as shown, the lower part of the plate a providing the bottom of the receptacle C, while the upper part of the plate a reinforces the seat and at its lower end joins thefloor a. The combined seat and back a is flanged at its edges, as shown, and the side flanges are riveted or otherwise secured to the sides of the body. Both the lower part of the combined seat and back portion a and the upper horizontal portion of the plate a are provided with an opening, through which access may be had to the engine parts located underneath the seat.

The body of the vehicle is supported at its rear end upon the elliptical springs d, which are bolted upon the bearing-boxes H, hereinafter described, and at their upper ends are attached to angle-plates a extending under the flanged lower end of the side of the body.

J designates a friction wheel, which is mounted on the axle E and aga nst which is adapted to bear a shoe j, the latter being formed on or attached to the rear end of a pivoted foot-lever K, fulcrumed in a bracket on the platform f and having its operating end extending through the floor of the vehicle within easy reach of the operator.

L designates the driving-wheel of the motor, from which passes a band an to and over a wheel n on the driving-axle E, and through the intervention of this band the vehicle is driven by the motor. The band loosely engages the wheels L and n, so as to normally slide over the same, and in order to drive the vehicle the belt is tightened by an idle roll 0 at the rear end of a curved arm 0, extending from a shaft 0 and the said shaft and arm are rocked by means of a lever 0, extending up to the seat of-the vehicle and held in an adjusted position by a rack-0 Having thus described my invention, 1 claim- 0 1. In a motor-vehicle, a sheet-metal body the four sides of which are provided at their lower ends with inwardly-projecting flanges, angle-plates a and a resting upon said flanges and supporting the seat, and a sheet-metal plate a forming a combined seat and back and provided with flanges at its edges.

2. In a motor-vehicle, a metallic body comprising the side and end plates connected together and provided each with an inwardly- Ico projecting flange at its lower edge, angleplates resting upon said flanges and oppositely to rest upon the springs, as shown and delo scribed.

In testimony whereof I affix my signature in the presence of two witnesses.

CHARLES F. THOMS.

Witnesses:

GRAFTON L. MGGlLL, HORACE L. BEALL. 

